DIFC and DFSA unveil relief measures to help Dubai financial firms navigate Iran war fallout

The Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Financial Services Authority have unveiled economic stimulus measures aimed at helping their companies cope with the effects of the regional conflict.

The measures at the DIFC are designed to “ease short-term operational and financial pressures” and are effective immediately, it said on Thursday.

They include flexible payment plans for the retail and commercial sectors, installment plans for license renewal fees, and additional support for retailers, in addition to grace periods on certain administrative payments.

The package “reflects a thoughtful and proactive approach to easing immediate pressures, while reinforcing the strength, resilience and long-term sustainability of the DIFC ecosystem”, DIFC Authority chief executive Arif Amiri said.

“We remain confident in the fundamentals of our community and its ability to emerge stronger, which in turn will ensure Dubai continues to advance its position as one of the world’s leading global financial centers."

Also on Thursday, the DFSA introduced a similar relief package that includes four “areas of relief” designed to ensure companies will be able to continue operations and serve clients in the present circumstances and beyond. The DFSA is the regulator of the DIFC.

These include measures for licensing and administrative requirements, governance and staffing arrangements, regulatory reporting and supervisory processes, and implementation timelines for selected regulatory initiatives, it said.

“These measures are intended to be risk‑based, proportionate, and time‑limited and will be applied in a manner that reflects the nature, scale, and complexity of individual firms,” the DFSA said.

Companies at the DIFC, meanwhile, have “demonstrated great resilience and financial strength” DFSA chief executive Mark Steward said.

“The DFSA wishes to provide assistance to firms, on request, as a bridge to the resumption of normal trading … these measures will ease operational challenges while ensuring our high regulatory standards continue to be met,” he said.

The UAE continues to deal with attacks by Iran, which claims it is retaliating for strikes by the US and Israel. Sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and aviation have experienced a slowdown since the start of the war, as airspace closures and flight disruptions remain possible.

The government, however, has ensured a business-as-usual environment. In Dubai, authorities approved a Dh1 billion ($272.2 million) support package for the emirate's business sector that took effect on April 1.

This week, Abdulla bin Touq, Minister for Economy and Tourism, said the UAE was preparing a significant support package for the tourism sector.

The DFSA will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds and will provide additional measures to assist firms, if needed, Mr. Steward said.

Last month, the Dubai International Financial Centre, the DIFC, reported that it welcomed a record number of companies in 2025, driven by a sharp rise in the number of asset and wealth managers in the financial hub of the emirate, which now plans to double its size by the end of the next decade.

Revenue at the center rose to Dh2.13 billion, a 20 percent annual increase, while net profit jumped by 28 percent to Dh1.48 billion.

The DIFC is set to follow the same growth trajectory this year and may even pass the pace achieved last year, with the tally at the end of the first month showing great promise with 30 percent year-on-year growth.